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Thread: Can I use a dimmer for temp control ?

  1. #1
    Junior Member
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    Can I use a dimmer for temp control ?

    This may be totally out of the ordinary question for this community, but I hope someone can help me..
    I need to know if dimmer plug TTCL-100H can be used as a rheostat or temperature control for an under the tank heater for my king snake... The heating mat is a medium, All Living Things model HMA-16 (Petsmart's brand) 120 VAC 60Hz 16w.. I need to be able to adjust the temp depending on the room temps.. Basically from 8w to 16w..
    It needs to be able to stay on 24/7..If this isn't the product I need, do you know what can be used for my situation ?
    Thank you in advance for reading this !!
    Kath

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  3. #2
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    I'm going to say no. The TTCL uses a triac. Triacs turn the load on/off to achieve dimming. For example, it may turn the load on/off 60 times per second to achieve 50% dimming. Heating devices are not going to like that.

    I would not recommend using any lighting controls on heating equipment. Check with the heating pad manufacturer to see if they have or recommend something.

    There are line voltage thermostats. You will have to do some rigging. I'm not recommending this particular one but it will give an idea.

    https://www.grainger.com/category/po...catalog/N-16yn
    Convergence Technologies Raleigh, North Carolina
    www.convergenceusa.com

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  5. #3
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    The reptile ones can control a light ?

    Thank you for the reply.. the only reason I'm questioning this is because the reptile ones say they can control a light bulb so I wasnt sure if the light bulb ones could control a heat device.. such as this one.. it says cam control an incandescent bulb up to 150w https://www.petmountain.com/product/...eat-controller
    Is it not reverse comparable ?

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  7. #4
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    That device appears to use variable resistance (rheostat), which is what dimmers originally were. It would not work with LED bulbs. Incandescent bulbs were not as particular about dimming. In the Q&A section, they specifically list some bulbs it will not work with.

    If you can find a dimmer that uses variable resistance, it might work. All of the Lutron dimmers I checked specify a "minimum load," so I suspect they all use a triac to dim.
    Convergence Technologies Raleigh, North Carolina
    www.convergenceusa.com

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